Section 1211(j) of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), as amended, revises the scope of the Baton Rouge, Louisiana, demonstration project in Section 149(a)(47)(B) of the Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987 (STURAA).

Section 149(a)(47)(B) of the STURAA states:

The Secretary shall carry out a highway project in the vicinity of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for the purpose of demonstrating the benefits of reducing traffic congestion in the immediate vicinity of a split-diamond interchange which connects an east-west highway on the Interstate System, 2 4-lane highways not on such system, and a 2-lane highway not on such system by providing—

(i) a direct exit lane from the westbound lanes of the highway on such system to one of such 4-lane highways;
(ii) a direct access ramp and acceleration lane from such 4-lane highway to the eastbound lanes of the highway on such system; and
(iii) a direct exit lane from the eastbound lanes of the highway on such system to the other of such 4-lane highways.

The modification in Section 1211(j) of TEA-21 eliminates paragraph (iii) above, which removes the requirement to provide a direct exit lane from the eastbound lanes of the Interstate highway.

If you have any questions, please call Mr. Larry Beidel (202-366-1564) of my staff.